Sandy eBook

The line of passengers moved slowly forward, and his
heart sank. Suddenly his eyes fell upon the little
hand-bag which she carried. On one end, in small
white letters, was: “Ruth Nelson, Kentucky,
U.S.A.” He watched her until she was lost
to view, then he turned eagerly back into the crowd.
Elbowing his way forward, he seized Ricks by the arm.

So this impetuous knight errant enlisted under the
will-o’-the-wisp love, and started joyously
forth upon his quest.

CHAPTER III

THE CURSE OF WEALTH

It is an oft-proved adage that for ten who can stand
adversity there is but one who can stand prosperity.
Sandy, alas! was no exception to any rule which went
to prove the frailty of human nature. The sudden
acquisition of ten dollars cast him into a whirlpool
of temptation from which he made little effort to
escape.

“I ain’t goin’ on to-day,”
announced Ricks. “I’m goin’
to lay in my goods for peddlin’. I reckon
you kin come along of me.”

Sandy accepted a long and strong cigar, tilted his
hat, and unconsciously caught Ricks’s slouching
gait as they went down the street. After all,
it was rather pleasant to associate with sophistication.

“We’ll git on the outside of a little
dinner,” said Ricks; “and I’ll mosey
round in the stores awhile, then I’ll take you
to a show or two. It’s a mighty good thing
for you that you got me along.”

Sandy thought so too. He cheerfully stood treat
for the rest of the day, and felt that it was small
return for Ricks’s condescension.

“How much you got left?” asked Ricks,
that night, as they stopped under a street light to
take stock.

Sandy held out a couple of dollars and a fifty-cent
piece.

“Enough to put on the eyes of two and a half
dead men,” he said as he curiously eyed the
strange money.

“One, two,—­two and a half,”
counted Ricks.

“Shillings?” asked Sandy, amazed.

Ricks nodded.

“And have I blowed all that to-day?”

“What of it?” asked Ricks. “I
seen a bloke onct what lit his cigar with a bill like
the one you had!”

“But the doctor said it was two pounds,”
insisted Sandy, incredulously. He did not realize
the expense of a personally conducted tour of the
Bowery.